Folding box or shipping-case.



W. H. DOBLE & C. M. WHEATON. FOLDING BOX OR SHIPPING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1908. 941,01 3. Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

W. H. DOBLE & G. M. WHEATON.

FOLDING BOX 0R SHIPPING CASE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 15, 1908.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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I/VWS'SESI M W. H. DOBLE 5: G. M. WHEATON. FOLDING BOX OR SHIPPING CASE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15. 1908.

94 1 ,0 1 3 Patented Nov. 23. 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

covs/e E BOTTOM F" E: 6 5 END 0. i E TA V42 VV/TNESSES' fNK/E'NTUHS:

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.sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

' WILLIAMiH nosiingiornninorgnnn CARL M. wrmnron, or NEWTON, MASSACHU- sEr'rs, "ASSIGNOBSQBYPI'BECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, or THREE-FOURTHS TO I HENRIETTA-W. meteor QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, AND ONE-FOURTH ro PNEU- Marie senile co TION or The special object of the invention 'is to' provide a folding box of sufficient size and strength to serve as a shipping case in which goods may be packed for shipping and the goods be protected against damage by breaking of the 'case while being handled and which can be folded into small compass to be returned to the shipper. The box is of rectangular form having as usual a bottom, two sides, two ends and a cover, all of which members are adapted to be hinged together, and preferably divided into sets of .three members each; that is, one set of three of said members being preferably hinged together and another set of three members being hinged together, and the two sets thus formed being adapted to be hinged together by a draw hinge when they are set up andbeing adapted; to be separated from each other so that when the box is knocked down, each set may be folded by itself. Preferably also each of said members; that is, each of said side and end pieces, and the top and cover, has an inner and an outer wall with I an air space between the walls and held togather by strengthening plates orcorrugated lates, the inner and,outer walls coiiperatmg to help form the hinged join-ts. v

The invention will be understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and

the novel' features are pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of the specification.

' In the drawings Figurel is a pers'pecf tive of a box assembled and set up embodying the invention, thecover being shown partially open and the locking rod which locks the cover tofthe front wall of the box being shown detached. Fig. 2 is'a'perspective of the box partially knocked down-be- Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Application filed August 15,1908. ,Scrlal No.4 18,642.

fore the two sides are separated, from each other and with both of the end walls extending in a vertical position before folded. Fig. '3 is a perspective of the bot to1n,-front and one end which constitute one set and are shown in their fully knocked down'position, the end member folding over onto the front. Fig. is a perspective of the cover and back and the other end which constitute the second set and showing them back B, the two ends 0 and D, the cover E and the bottom F.

The front A, the bottom F and the end D are all pivotally connected together and form one set as shown in Fig. 3 when the box is in its knock-down form. The back B, cover E and end G are all pivotally connected together and when in their knock-down form, form the second set as shown in Fig. 4:. The bottom F and back B have a draw hinge connection with each other as will be hereinafter described, whereby the two sets may be connected together as shown in Fig. 2 before the box is set up. Each of the above six members CQIDPLISGS an outer plate and an inner'plate with a space betweenthem and united together by corrugated plates in the space begated plates between the walls are all substantially alike and are represented by the numeral 13. These corrugated plates are corrugated or bent to crisscross between the outer and inne'iflplates, and are secured to the inner and outer plates by eyelets l4 or A TI 0N LIMITED, OI 'QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- r LDING BOX on snirrms-cesn I 5 REISSUEJT Specification of Letters Patent.

formed out of the metal of the plates, and the corrugated plate is attached by the eyelets struck up alternately from the outer plate and the corrugated plate, that is, one

eyelet'is formed by swaging up the outer .plate through a hole punched through the corrugated plate and the next eyelet. is formed by swaging up the corrugated plate through a hole punched in the inner plate, then the next eyelet formed like the first, and so on, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. The attaching of the corrugated member to the inside and outside plates forms a truss which gives great rigidity, is simple of construction and is light in weight.

Each of the six members A, B, C, D, E and F is formed with rolls or curls on those edges which .are shown free in the knockdown position of Fig. 2 which are adapted to interlock the rolls or curls in the adjoining free edges of the other members when the six members are set up, the front edge of the cover E and the top edge of the front A being adapted to be fastened together by a removable locking I rod or other suitable fastening, as will be hereinafter described.-

The front edge of the outer plate 11 of the bottom F is formed with a series of curled fingers or knuckles l5 and the inner plate 12 of the bottom is formed with a correspond.

ing series of curls or knuckles 16 which are curled inside of the knuckles 15. The outer plate 1 of the front A is formed on its lower edge with a series of curled fingers or knuckles 17 and the inner plate 2 of thefront is formed with a corresponding series of'curls or knuckles 18 which fit inside of the knuc kles 17, the knuckles 17 18, being adapted to fit into the spaces between the knuckles15,

16, of the bottom as shown in Fig. 1'. A rod 19 passes through the knuckles of the front A and bottom F to fasten them together as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

This rod. 19 is preferably secured against withdrawal in any suitable manner, preferably by making it fast or fitting tight within the knuckles 16, the knuckles 18 being sufficiently loose on the rod so that the front A may be turned down on the rod as a pivot to bring the front down flat in plane with the bottom F as shown in Fig. 2 when the box is knocked down. k

The left hand ends of the plates 1, 2, which form the front A, as viewed in Fig. 1, to which the end D is connected, are formed with inward curls, respectively, the curl of.

the inner plate'being inside of the curl 21 of the outer plate, and being curled around the stiffening rod 22. These curls are formed with a series of elongated slots 23 passing through thefcurls of both plates. The lower edges of the inner and outer plates 7 8, of the end wall D are formed respectively with the curled tongues 24, 25, as shown in Fig. 3, the tongues of the outer plate-being curled Within the tongues of the inner plate. These tongues pass through the slots 23 and hook around the curl 21, thus forming a pivotal connection between the end D and the front A.

One edge of both the inner and outer plates of'the bottom F is curled, one within the other, forming a roll 26, curled around the stifiening rod 27, andthe cooperating edges of the outer and inner plates of the end D are curled, one withinthe other, forming a double lip 28 which is adapted to engage the curled roll 26 of the bottom when the box is setup.- l

The left hand end of both the inner and outer plates of the back B form a curled roll 29 around a stifiening rod 30 and the cooperating edges of the inner and outer platesof the two plates 3 and 4 of the back are formed with a curled roll, one within the other, forming a curl 32 around the stiffening rod 33. The roll 32 is formed with a series of elongated slots similar to the slots 23 in the roll 21 of the front to which the end D is connected. The inner and outer plates 5, 6, of the end 0 are formed with curled tongues, one within the other, forming a series of tongues 34 which curl around the roll 32 and engage with the slots in the roll 32 when the end C is folded down over the.

back B as shown in Fig. 4. The cover E and the back have a hinge connection with each other.

curled tongues 38, 39, one within the other,

which curl around the roll formed by the curl 35, 36, of the back B. The roll formed The inner and outer plates of the back B are formed with outwardly curled rolls 35, 36, the curlof the outer plate being curled within the curl 35-.

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by the curl 35, 36, is formed withelongated slots 40 through which the tongues. of the cover pass when the cover is turnedback as shown in Fig. 4;

The bottom F and the back B have a 'draw hinge connection with each other. 'The inner and outer plates 11, 12, of the bottom are drawn together near the edge.

43. The neck 41 is' pro-.

back B are drawn together forming a neck 45 and then are spread and turned back upon themselves as shown in Fig. 7, and havea series of projecting portions corresponding in width with the elongated slots 44 which are spread and curled back upon themselves as shown in Figs. 4 and 7 forming a series of open eyes 46 which embrace the roll 42. The space 47 formed between the lids of theeyes 46 is of a width suflicient to permitlateral passage of the neck 41 of the bottom so that when the back and the. bottom are turned down into the same plane, as shown in Fig.7, the bottom and the back may be separated from each other by a lateral movement as will be obvious. When they are assembled, however, as shown in Fig. 7, if the back B is turned up at right angles with the bottom, the lids of the eyes 46 will engage with the slots'44 and lock the' two members together to prevent lat-- eral disengagement. The portion of the outer plate 3 of the back B between the eyes 46 is turned back to form a clamp 461 which more closely binds together the inner and outer plates and the intermediate corrugated plate as shown in Fig. 4.

The end C and thebottom F are constructed in such manner that the twomay be engaged and the box set up in similar manner to the engagement of the end D and bottom F; that is, the inner and outer plates of the bottom are formed with curled edges, one within the other, forming a roll 48 around a rod/49, see Fig. 3, which is adapted to be engaged by the outwardly curled lip 50 formed by the edges of the inner and outer plates of the end C.

The end C and front A are adapted also to be connected in a similar manner as the endC and the bottom F and the inner and outer plates of the front A are formed with a roll 51 around the rod 52which is adapted to be engaged by the curled lip 53 formed on the edges of the inner and outer plates of the end C.

The cover E is formed on one edge with a roll 54 made by the edges of the outer and inner plates 9, 10, curled around the rod 541 which is adapted to engage'with an outwardlycurled Ii 55 'on one edge of .the end D formed by tie combined edges of the outer and inner plates 7, 8, and the cover E is also formed with a roll 56 around the rod 561 on the opposite edge from the 11011154 which is adapted to engage with a curled lip 57 formed by the combined edges of the .outer and inner'plates of the end vC. \Vhen the box is set up, and the cover is closed, the rolls 54,56, can easily be sprung into engagement with the lips 55 and 57, respectively, of'tne ends D and C.

When the box is fully assembled and filled and the cover is ready to be closed, there should be some suitable locking means. That back, and the setcomprisin which .I' have shown and refer is as follows: The upper edges of oth'plates 1, 2, of the front A are formed with a series of corresponding projections which are curled over. one within the other, formin a series of eyes 58 and the front edge of t e plates forming the cover E are formed with a series of curled eyes 59 corresponding with the spaces between the eyes 58 of the front so that the eyes of the cover and the front will match together when the cover is closed, and a locking rod 60 is provided, which, when the 'cover is closed, may be passed through the eyes of both the cover and the front. Any other suitable locking mechan ism may be provided.

Assuming the box to be in its knocked down form, the set comprising the cover, the back and the end C are folded as shown in Fig. ,4, the end being folded over onto the the front, the bottom and the end D are olded as shown in Fig. :3. the end D being folded onto the front A. In order to set up the box, the two sets are first joined together by engaging the two members of the draw hinge with each other; that is, by engaging the roll 42 of the bottom with the eyes 46 of the back I by a lateral sliding movement; then the two ends C and D are turned up into a vertical position as shown in Fig. 2. The front A may then be turned u into a vertical position, thereby also turning the end D on ment with the roll 26 on the bottom F. The back B may then be turned up so that the lip 31 of the end D may be sprung into engagement with the roll 29 of the back and in turning up the back B, the end C will also be turned edgewise so as tobringihe lip 50 to the bottom where it may be sprung into engagement with the roll 48 of the bottom F and the lip 53 of the end C may be sprung into engagement with the roll 51 of the front A. The parts will then all be in the set. up position shown in Fig. 1. When the boxis filled and it is desired to close the box by turnim down the cover, the rolls-54 and 56' will spring over the lips 55 and 57 of the ends C, D. the eyes 59, 58, will match together asalready described, and the locking rod 60 may be inserted in place.

I 'W'hen knocked down and the two sets are separated, the end D may be folded over flat onto the front A, as shown in Fig. 3, while the bottom F is left open. and the end C may be folded over. flat onto the back B, as

shown in Fig. 4. when the cover E is left layer will rest on the double layer so as to make a level pile three layers deep, in compact form for shipment of the case back to the original shipper to beiused again.

Vhat we claim is: 1. A knock-down metallic box comprising a cover, bottom, front, back and two end" walls, one of the end walls and the bottom,

' with a slotted neck which has a slidable connection with said knuckleswhen saidytwo members are in the same plane with each other and the neckof the pintle is in alinement with the said slits, said knuckles and pintle interlocking by engagement of the knuckles with the slots of the neck to prevent disengagement when said two members are turned at an angle to each other.

2. A knock-down metallic box comprising a cover, bottom, front, back and two end Walls, one of the end walls and the bottom being hinged to adjacent edges of the front wall, the other end wall and the cover being hinged to adjacent edges of the back wall, one edge of the bottom having a draw hinge connection with the back wall, one of said last two members having slotted knuckles which project therefrom and the other of said two members having a portion thereof formed as a pintle which has a slidable connection with said knuckles thereby forming the draw hinge connection, other edges of said end walls being formed with curled spring lips and otheretlges of the top, bottom, front and back being formed with curled rolls with which said spring lips engage when the box is set up forming a locking connection of all the parts.

3. A knock-down metallic box having six walls,combined in sets of three each, one wall of one set having its edge formed with slotted hinge knuckles, the other set of members having one edge of one wall terminating in a slotted neck and a curled roll forming a pintle which is adapted to engage with the slotted knuckles of the other set, whereby the two sets may be hinged together, the contiguous edges which arefree when the box is in a knock-down position being formed some with curled lips and'the others with curled rolls which interlock with the curled lips when the box is set up.

cover, bottom, two ends and two sides all pivotally connected togetherand adapted to be spread out in single la er when 'in the knocked down position an opened out, the edges which are free when inthe knocked down position being adapted, when the box is set up, to interlockwlth each other, the six members being divided into two sets of three each, one set having on the edge of one of its members a series of hinge knuckles with longitudinal slits therein, the other set having on the edge of one of its members a slotted neck and a curle roll forming a hinge pin which is adapte to beengaged with the slotted knuckles of the other set by a sliding movement when the two sets are spread, out and which will lock the two sets together when the said two members are turned at an angle to each other.

5. In a knock-down box formed of metallic lates, a wall plate having one of its edges formed with a curled roll with a series of slots,another wall plate having one of its edges formed with a-series of curled tongues which are adapted to engage with the slots in the roll of said first plate and form a hinge connection therewith, the other edge of said second plate being formed with curled lips, the contiguous edges of the other wall plates which are to be connected with said second plate being formed with curled rolls with which said curled lips are adapted to be engaged when the box is set up.

6.. A knock-down box having double walls composed of sheet metal plates spaced apart from each other, and a corrugated strengthening plate of sheet metal between the. inner and outer plates composing said walls, said corrugated plate having its corrugations contacting alternately with said inner and outer walls and secured thereto in the lines of contact. 1

7. A knock-down box having double walls throughout formed of inner and outer plates with an air space between them and having corrugated strengthening plates between the inner and outer wall plates, the said plates being formed with eyelets integral therewith which secure the wall plates and strengthening plates together.

8. A knock-down box having double walls throughout formed of inner and outer plates Y V between the inner and outer plates and scor- 4. A knock-down metallic box having a.

nately with the mner plate and the outer plate.

A knock-down, box having one of two adjacent members formed with a curled lip with a series of slots therein, the other of said two adjacent members having one edge formed with a series of curled tongues which are adapted to engage with the slots-in the said first-member by a turning movement and form a hinge connection therewith and lock the two members together when one is turned up at an angle to the other and which are separable only by turning them into the same plane witneach other.

11. In a knock-down box one wall thereof having one edge formed with a series of projecting tubular knuckles with longitudinal slots therein, and an adjoining wall having one edge formed with a projecting neck portion adapted-to be passed through the slots in said knuckleslengthwise of the slots, and terminating in a roll forming a pintle adapted to loosely fit in said knuckles, said neck being formed with slots with which the edges of the knuckles are adapted to engage to permit the' member with which the pintle portion is connected to turn with relation tothe other member.

12.A'kn0ck down box having a front, back, bottom, two ends and a cover, one of said members having a separable draw-hinge connection with oneof the others so constructed that said two members may be connected together or separated from each other only when in the same plane with each other and which interlock to prevent separation when turned at an angle to each other.

13. A knock-down box'having afront, back, bottom, two ends and a cover, each of said six members having a .double wallformed. by an inner and an outer plate with an air space between'them, means for uniting together the inner and outer plates of each double wall, the front and bottom hava ing on their contiguous edges curled knuckles which break joints and inter-engage with each other and ahinge pivot connectingthem, the back and cover having a hinge connection with each other similar to the hinge connection of the front and bottom, the front having on one edge an incurled roll with a series of slots, and one of the ends having on one edge a series of outwardly curled tongues which are adapted to engage with said slotted roll and form a hinge connection therewith, the back and the other end having a slottedroll and tongue connection similar to that of the front and first end, a draw-hinge connection'between the back and the bottom, whereby the back and bottom ma be hinged together or separated from eac other when in the knocked down position, the two ends having on those edges which are free the knocked-down position outwardly curled lips, and the cover, back, bottom and front having on those free edges which, when the box is set up, are contiguous to the curled lips of the ends, inwardly curled rolls with which the curled lips are adapted to be engaged when the box is set up.

14. A knock-down box having a front, back, bottom, two ends and a cover, the front and bottom having on their contiguous edges curled knuckles which break joints and interengage with each other and a hinge pivot connecting them, the back and cover having a hinge connection with each other similar to the hingeconnection of the front and bottom, the front having on one edge an incurled roll with a series of slots, andone of the ends having on one edge a series of outwardly curled tongues which are adapted to engage with said slotted roll and form a hinge connection therewith, the back and the other end having a slotted roll and tongue connection similar to that of the front and first end, a draw-hinge connection between the back and the bottom, whereby the back and bottom may be hinged together or separated from each other when in the knocked down position, the two ends having on those edges which are free in the knocked down position outwardly curled lips, and the cover, back, bottom and front having on those free edges which, when the box is set up, are contiguous to the curled lips of the ends, inwardly curled rolls with which the curled lips-are adapted to be engaged when the box is set up.

15. VA knock-down box having double walls with an air space between the walls, means for uniting together the inner and outer walls of each of the six members which form the top, bottom, ends and sides of the box,the top, end and one side being pivotally connected together forming one set, the bottom, end and the other side being pivotally connected together and forming a second-set, each set being adapted to be laid out in a flat position and one set having a draw-hmge connection with, the-other set,

the inner and outer plates which form one of the walls of one set having projecting flanges which are shaped to form a series of slotted eyes, and the inner and outer plates of one of the walls of the other-set having flanges which are adapted to form a neck terminating in a roll whereby the two sets ma be hinged together by sliding the said rol of one member laterally into the eyes of the other member when the neck is in alinement with the opening between the lids of the eyes, and the two sets may then be locked together by turning the two hinged members at an angle to each 0 her.

In testimony whereof we a x our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H; DOBLE. CARL M. WHEATON.

Witnesses:

JAMES F. AYLWARD, WILLIAM A. COPELAND. 

